Meaning of “actually” in the English Dictionary

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"actually" in English

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uk /ˈæk.tʃu.ə.li/ us /ˈæk.tʃu.ə.li/

A2 in fact or really:

I didn't actually see her - I just heard her voice.

So what actually happened?

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There seems to be some confusion over who is actually giving the talk.
I didn't actually want any more dessert, but Julia forced it on me .
I looked through the window, but I didn't actually go in.
They suspected that she'd killed him but they could never actually prove that it was her.
It's unclear what actually happened that night.

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B1 used in sentences in which there is information that is in some way surprising or the opposite of what most people would expect:

I didn't like him at first, but in the end I actually got quite fond of him.

I'm one of the few people who doesn't actually like champagne.

humorous Don't tell me he actually paid for you!

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It really gets me the way we're expected to actually laugh at his pathetic jokes!
You actually like modern jazz, do you? Each to their own.
I didn't actually want any more dessert, but Julia forced it on me.
Peter might look a bit fierce, but actually he's fairly harmless.
She appears to actually like the man, which I find incredible.

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B2 used as a way of making a sentence slightly more polite, for example when you are expressing an opposing opinion, correcting what someone else has said, or refusing an offer:

"Alexander looks like he'd be good at sports." "Actually, he's not."

Actually, Gavin, it was Tuesday of last week, not Wednesday.

"Do you mind if I smoke?" "Well, actually, I'd rather you didn't."

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I wouldn't mind something to eat, actually.
I'd like a cup of coffee, please - actually, on second thoughts, I'll have a beer.
"Did your American friends enjoy their stay?" "Yes. Actually, they're Canadian."
"Mark's coming today to look at the books." "Actually, it's tomorrow."
"You must be exhausted after that long journey." "Actually, I feel fine."

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(Definition of “actually” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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(Definition of “actually” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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Is it actually true that the effect of using oestrogens is to increase the risk of breast cancer rather than to reduce it?